East Timor

Lord Stallard: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the United Kingdom will be represented in East Timor after independence.

Baroness Amos: The UK has played a leading role in rebuilding East Timor and preparing for self-government there. We have so far committed more than £30 million for reconstruction and rehabilitation—including £12 million from DfID for the first three years after independence. We will upgrade the existing British office in Dili to an embassy on independence and Hamish St Clair Daniel will be the first British Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of East Timor. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Mr Ben Bradshaw, will represent HMG at the Independence Day celebrations in Dili on 20 May.

Camp X-Ray: UK Detainees

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 27 March (WA 47), whether they will seek an assurance from the United States Government that they will treat all United Kingdom detainees in accordance with the obligations imposed by the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: HMG have made approaches to the United States Government on the treatment of the detainees in Guantanamo Bay. The United States Government have given us the assurance that they would treat all the detainees humanely and consistently with the principles of the Geneva Convention. Rebo

European Union: Legal Personality

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by Lord Rooker on 23 April (HL Deb, col. 223), what would be the principal effect of the European Union acquiring full legal personality.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: It would acquire legal capacity to act in the international field to the extent of the powers and functions conferred on it.
	For the Government's views on legal personality for the European Union, I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave him on 17 December 2001 (Official Report, col. WA 10).

European Union: Forthcoming Council Business

Lord Orme: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for May, and what are the major European Union events the period between 31 May and October 2002.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: May 2002 7 May—ECOFIN—Brussels 1. Adoption of the Agenda 2. Approval of the list of "A" items 3. Broad economic policy guidelines —Commission recommendation 4. Directives and reports in the financial services area —Market Abuse —Political agreement —Financial holdings —Political agreement 5. (poss.) Taxation of energy —Council conclusions 6. Preliminary draft Community budget for 2003 7. (poss.) Recasting of the Financial Regulation 8. Other business Other business 2—Washington—EU/US Summit 3–4—Brussels—Tourism Council (Ministerial Informal) 6—Brussels—Eurogroup (Evening) 8—Toledo—EU/Canada Summit 13—Brussels—General Affairs Council and Defence Ministers Meeting 17–18—Madrid—EU/Latin America and Caribbean Summit 21—Brussels—Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council 23—Brussels—Culture and Audio-visual Council 23–24—Brussels—Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary Session 24–26—Palma de Mallorca-Environment Council (Ministerial Informal) 27–28—Brussels—Agriculture Council 30—Brussels—Development Council 30—Brussels—Education and Youth Council 31–1—Brussels—Transport Council (Ministerial Informal)
	The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 June and October 2002 (certain relevant events are also included: the list is based on the information available at the date of issue).
	
		European Calendar: June 2002–October 2002
		
			 Date Location Event 
			 June   
			 3 Brussels Employment and Social Affairs Council 
			 3 Brussels Eurogroup (Evening) 
			 4 Luxembourg ECOFIN 
			 6–8 Brussels Foreign Affairs Council (ASEM Ministers) 
			 6–7 Brussels Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary Session 
			 6–7 Brussels Industry and Energy Council 
			 10–11 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 10–11 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 11 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 13–14 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 
			 17–18 Brussels Transport and Telecoms Council 
			 17–18 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 21–22 Seville European Council 
			 24 Brussels General Affairs Council (Evening) 
			 24–25 Brussels Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary Session 
			 24–25 Brussels Environment Council 
			 25 Luxembourg ECOFIN 
			 26 Brussels Health Council 
			  
			 July   
			 6 Copenhagen ASEM Ministers for Finance 
			 11–12 Brussels Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary Session 
			 12 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 12–13 Kolding Meeting of Employment and Social Policy Ministers (Informal) 
			 15–16 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 19 Brussels Budget Meeting 
			 19–21 – Environment Ministers Meeting (Informal) 
			 22–23 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			  
			 August   
			 31–1 Elsinore Gymnich (Ministerial Informal) 
			  
			 September   
			 6 Brussels ASEM Economic Ministers Meeting 
			 6–8 Copenhagen ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal) 
			 8–10 Nyborg Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 12–13 Copenhagen Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 22–23 Copenhagen ASEM Meeting 
			 23–24 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 26 Brussels Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism Council 
			 27 Tent ACP-EU Ministers Meeting 
			 30 Brussels Research Council 
			 30–1 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			  
			 October   
			 3–4 Brussels Transport and Telecommunications Council 
			 8 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 8 Brussels Employment and Social Policy Council 
			 14 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 14–15 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil Protection Council 
			 15–16 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 17 Brussels Environment Council 
			 18–19 Aalborg Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Industry Meeting (Ministerial Informal) 
			 21–22 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 24–25 Brussels European Council

Ash from Specified Risk MaterialRebo

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many landfill sites are licensed to take ash from specified risk material incinerators; and where they are located.

Lord Whitty: The Environment Agency's list of sites is being updated and will be released later this month. I will send the noble Baroness a copy as soon as it is available and place a copy in the Library of the House.

Animal Welfare Legislation

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are preparing any Bill of rights for animals; and, if so, they will legislate to ensure that animals fulfil any responsibilities.

Lord Whitty: The Government are not preparing a Bill of rights for animals. There has been a public consultation concerning the modernisation and consolidation of animal welfare laws. The consultation, launched on 2 January, ended on 30 April. The department will consider the possibility of a new animal welfare Bill in the light of the replies to the consultation. The preparation of a Bill of rights for animals has never been the aim of the consultation. Rebo

Veterinary Surgeons: Training in Notifiable Diseases

Lord Redesdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to train private veterinary surgeons in the identification and treatment of notifiable diseases when involved in the support of the State Veterinary Service.

Lord Whitty: Private veterinarians are appointed as local veterinary inspectors (LVIs) by the department in order to carry out specific functions.
	Part of the appointment process involves departmental training in those areas to which the appointment relates. The objectives of such training are to improve the ability and performance of the LVI in carrying out work for the department and to provide motivation to achieve and maintain satisfactory standards.
	Following a successful assessment of the trainee's suitability, a temporary appointment of six months will be established. During this period an assessment of the officer's competence will be made. Satisfactory assessment leads to a full appointment.
	It is the responsibility of the department to maintain a level of training suitable for the LVI to perform his or her functions. Training is complemented with written instructions, newsletters and practice liaison meetings during which new issues and instructions are discussed. The department's official journal of the SVS, State Veterinary Journal, is published and distributed to LVI practices bi-annually. These publications have included a series of articles on notifiable diseases. All LVIs have access to a departmental veterinary officer 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rebo

Veterinary Surgeons: Training in Notifiable Diseases

Lord Redesdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have received on the recommendation of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Foot-and-Mouth Disease Interim Contingency Plan for private veterinary surgeon practices to be contractually obliged to spend a minimum number of days working in animal health offices.

Lord Whitty: No specific representation has been received on this recommendation. However, my officials have entered into discussion with the British Veterinary Association and other stakeholders on future arrangements between the private veterinary profession and the State Veterinary Service.

Veterinary Surgeons: Training in Notifiable Diseases

Lord Redesdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the experience and training of non-British veterinary surgeons in notifiable diseases.

Lord Whitty: During the course of the recent foot and mouth outbreak the department was assisted by foreign government veterinarians and temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs). These veterinarians were registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
	European Community (EC) directives provided for mutual recognition of veterinary qualifications and free movement of veterinary surgeons within the European Union.
	Those government veterinary surgeons seconded to Defra who graduated from veterinary schools not eligible for full registration by the RCVS received termporary MRCVS registration. All vets on the temporary register were placed under the jurisdiction of a named veterinary surgeon who was responsible for their professional conduct.
	To assist in the process of analysing the experiences of those government veterinarians who helped in the eradication of FMD, questionnaires completed by foreign vets are in the process of being evaluated.

Public Consumption Campaign

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which part of their Are You Doing Your Bit? campaign addresses the impact of consumer products.

Lord Whitty: The campaign uses a variety of channels to raise public awareness of environmental issues and the scope for individuals to help reduce the negative impacts of consumption. The campaign's activities include advertising, direct marketing and other forms of public relations. Most of the messages conveyed have a bearing on the purchase, use or disposal of products, in varying degrees. For example, Defra's Are You Doing Your Bit? stand at the recent Ideal Home show featured the energy labelling of household goods; sustainable timber; and farmers' markets. Other recent activities have aimed to promote household recycling of products and their packaging.

Public Consumption Campaign

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the annual funding for their Are You Doing Your Bit? campaign.

Lord Whitty: Recent expenditure on the campaign has been undertaken both by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. The provisional outturn for the financial year 2001-02 is approximately £1 million.

Public Consumption Campaign

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What leaflets they have produced to inform consumers about the environmental impact of consumer products and about misleading ''green'' claims; how such leaflets are distributed; and what agreements they have with the retail sector to distribute these leaflets at point of sale.

Lord Whitty: The Government have produced a number of leaflets to assist consumers in this area.
	The Green Claims Code sets out the standard of information that the public can expect to be given about the environmental impacts of consumer products. The leaflet Hi, I'm Green is a simple guide for consumers on the most commonly occurring environmental claims on products and explains what claims to look for and how to ask for further information. Both the code and leaflet have been distributed widely among retailers, manufacturers, trade associations, advertising agencies, trading standards officers and local authority Agenda 21 co-ordinators, who have been asked for help in disseminating the information to consumers. The Hi, I'm Green leaflet has been distributed through Are You Doing Your Bit? road-shows, at conferences and through Safeway stores, which first stocked the leaflet at their customer helpdesks during autumn 2001. Rebo
	The leaflet Energy labels for refrigeration and washing appliances—helping you make the right choice explains the information contained in EU energy labels displayed at the point of sale on new refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, electric tumble dryers, combined washer-dryers and dishwashers. This leaflet has been widely distributed to retailers and is available in most electrical outlets.
	The leaflet Pick the flower—the ecolabel promotes the EU ecolabelling scheme. It is offered to the manufacturers of all ecolabelled products on sale in the UK to help them explain the scheme to their customers. A separate leaflet The Ecolabel for Soil Improvers has also been produced and sent to the distributors of ecolabelled soil improver to help retailers explain and promote the labelled products.
	All of these leaflets are available free from Defra and are also on the Defra website. They are promoted in the course of regular contacts with business, manufacturing and consumer organisations. The department also works with other organisations on material to promote environmentally preferable products. A leaflet A guide to better shopping was produced last year in partnership with the WWF Sustainability Action Network and has been distributed to customers of Barclays, to members of WWF and through Are You Doing Your Bit? events.
	Copies of these leaflets have been placed in the Library of the House.

Hunting with Dogs

Lord Geddes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 29 April (WA 71-2), whether it is intended that the results of recent individual opinion polls will be taken into account in the process of consultation on the issue of hunting, and, if so, how?

Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Minister for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) will give due consideration to all contributions made by individuals and organisations in response to his letter of 10 April seeking their views and evidence which respond to the terms of his statement made on 21 March to the House of Commons and repeated by myself in your Lordships' House. Rebo

Welfare Reform Workshops

Lord Burnham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the purpose of the workshops to be conducted on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions to establish a changed management programme.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The creation of the Department for Work and Pensions is an essential part of the Government's programme of welfare reforms. Our managers and staff have the key role in its delivery, moving from the passive payment of benefits to providing more help and encouragement in finding work. This is a large programme of change and the workshops are designed to support our managers in delivering this.

Oxford and Cambridge Admission Data

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What figures they have for the proportion of students admitted to each course at Oxford and Cambridge broken down by (a) social class and (b) state and independent schools.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The information is not held centrally. I have commissioned this data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), and I will write to the noble Lord with the requested information in due course and place a copy in the Library.

A400M Aircraft

Lord Gilbert: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What items of British military equipment can be carried in a C-17 transport aircraft but not in the proposed A400M by virtue of either (a) their weight or (b) their size.

Lord Bach: The A400M aircraft will be capable of carrying all those items of British military equipment specified in its endorsed requirement document including, for example, Warrior and Apache. The C-17 can, by virtue of its larger load space/lift capability, carry other items of British equipment that fall outside of this requirement. It is, for example, capable of carrying one main battle tank, although our plans do not envisage transporting such equipment by air.

Afghanistan: Field Hospitals

Lord Swinfen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are now able to answer the questions put to Lord Bach by Lord Swinfen on 18 March (HL Deb, col. 1146) in the debate on Afghanistan, to which answers were promised.

Lord Bach: The Czech field hospital is currently deploying to Afghanistan and lead elements have already arrived. It should be fully deployed by mid-May and will provide support to the International Security Assistance Force. The UK field hospital (34 Field Hospital) will remain in Afghanistan and provide support to 45 Commando Group.

South Mimms and Clacket Lane Services: Lorry Parking

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the provision of service area facilities for drivers of heavy goods vehicles at South Mimms and Clacket Lane services on the M25 is adequate.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Although the facilities at South Mimms and Clacket Lane, including the number of lorry parking spaces, meet the requirements which we place on their operators, traffic growth has increased pressure on lorry parking at both service areas. Proposals exist for further services on the western side of the M25 to help relieve the pressure but finding a site which is acceptable in planning terms has proved difficult. The department is meanwhile due shortly to meet representatives of the haulage industry, lorry drivers and service area operators to review ways of improving both the quantity and quality of lorry drivers' facilities throughout the motorway network.

Lorry Routeing

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will advise drivers of heavy goods vehicles in general to avoid using B class roads when there is an alternative route that uses exclusively A roads and that alternative route is not disproportionately longer.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Any lorry journey will inevitably require a driver to use different classses of road. The Government made clear in Sustainable Distribution: A Strategy published in 1999 that lorries should not travel on unsuitable roads unless they have to use them for collection or delivery. Local traffic authorities can make traffic regulation orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to ensure that lorries do not use unsuitable roads. The Government expect authorities to address issues such as lorry access and routeing through their local transport plans.

Flight BA 2069

Lord Grenfell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made in reviewing the circumstances of the incident on board flight BA 2069 on 29 December 2000 when a mentally disturbed passenger seized the aircraft controls.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Civil Aviation Authority has reported on the outcome of its review of the incident on 29 December 2000 and we placed in the Libraries of both Houses a report of the authority's findings. We are satisfied that the security and safety lessons from the incident for the travelling public have already been fully taken into account in the actions taken since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.

Digital Switchover

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to mount a public information campaign on analogue switch off, including a reminder to every analogue television purchaser that if the target date for analogue switch off is met, their television will be not be capable of receiving television transmissions without the use of a set top box or decoder.

Baroness Blackstone: One of the key tasks of the Digital Television Action Plan is to keep under review the timing of any government-led information campaign on digital switchover, taking into account the rate of take-up of digital services, the availability and range of digital equipment and choice of platform. The Market Preparation Group is developing a strategic marketing and communication plan to prepare consumers for the switchover to digital and we will look to its advice on information campaigns.

Performing Arts: ATW Benefit

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by Lord Davies of Oldham on 29 April (HL Deb, col. 547), what measures they propose to take to ensure that (a) applications for access to work (ATW) benefit are processed swiftly enough so that those in the performing arts who are on short-term or part-time contracts can make a successful claim; (b) ATW benefit will cover personal assistance needs of those employed in the performing arts who are travelling to work in non-office environments; and (c) ATW will be available to disabled people who are on work experience or placements in training in the performing arts.

Baroness Blackstone: Access to work benefit is managed by Jobcentre Plus, which has sought to improve the delivery of access to work over the past 12 months by introducing improvements to the applications process. These include creation of access to work business centres in the English regions, Scotland and Wales: specialist access to work advisers; and improved access channels to contact the business centres telephone, e-mail and textphones.
	One outcome of these changes is that, where possible, support is approved by telephone. If support is needed at particularly short notice, for example travel costs to get to work, access to work advisers can now agree temporary costs immediately by telephone while a fuller appraisal of need is undertaken.
	Access to work support is not restricted to specific occupations or work environments. Support workers, including personal assistants, and travel needs are growing areas with access to work. During 2000–01 over half the money spent and a third of new applications to access to work were for travel and human support.
	Extending access to work in the way suggested could have an unintentionally adverse effect by limiting the resources Jobcentre Plus has available to help disabled people already in, or about to start, paid jobs and encourage employers to recruit disabled people. Separate funds already exist to provide additional support to disabled people undertaking work experience, placements or training through a Jobcentre Plus programme, such as the New Deal for Disabled People.

Performing Arts: Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the debate on 29 April (HL Deb, col. 533), what measures they are taking to assist educational bodies which offer courses in the performing arts to adjust their recruitment policies, their courses and their buildings so that they can comply with the requirements of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001.

Baroness Blackstone: One hundred and seventy-two million pounds have been allocated in 2002–04 for the implementation of the new post-16 educational duties. This will help publicly funded further and higher education institutions, including those which offer courses in the performing arts, to improve disabled access to buildings and in the provision of specialised equipment.
	Wholly privately-funded post-16 providers and providers of work-based training are not covered by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001, but remain subject to Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act on goods, facilities and services. The Disability Rights Commission has prepared codes of practice to help schools and providers of post-16 education plan for the new duties coming into force from September 2002. Subject to parliamentary approval for the codes, the commission intends to publish them in early summer.

National Stadium

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make an announcement on the national stadium project.

Baroness Blackstone: I refer my noble friend to the statement I made to the House on Tuesday 7 May (Official Report, col. 1031–33).

Peerages: Agreement of the Government of Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 26 March (WA 44) concerning the consultation of the Irish Government on the conferment of peerages, whether they will explain what is meant by the term Irish national.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Irish nationality, and qualification for Irish nationality, is a matter for the Government of Ireland.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Peyton of Yeovil: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish a table showing department by department the length of time taken to reply to Questions for Written Answer during this session and stating which department is most frequently in default of what is required by courtesy as well as by the rules of the House.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The information requested is not currently available for this session.
	A new computer database has recently been installed in my office which will enable this information to be provided in the future.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to find out the reason why on 1 May, 65 Questions for Written Answer were still awaiting answer for longer than 21 days; and
	Whether 14 days remains the length of time during which Questions for Written Answer in the House of Lords should receive a reply.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The longstanding problem of the time taken to reply to Parliamentary Questions is an issue of concern. I am taking a number of steps to address this problem.
	A new computer database has recently been installed in my office which is helping my office to chase progress on late Answers and provide more helpful replies in future to Questions raised on this issue.
	I have also asked the house authorities whether they will look into the feasibility of designating the answering department when the Question appears on the Order Paper. This would not necessitate any change in the House of Lords' practice of addressing Questions to ''Her Majesty's Government'' but it would help with the administrative process of ensuring that departments are aware of their responsibilities.
	I can confirm that departments are still expected to reply to Written Questions within 14 days.

Contacts with the Media

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements they propose to make to facilitate (a) parliamentary and (b) public scrutiny of the record of contacts with the media kept under the provisions of Clause 9 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers; and whether it is their policy to release the records as a matter of course under the 30- year rule in any event.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: All civil servants, including special advisers, are expected to keep departmental heads of information informed of contacts with the media. Details of such contacts are for internal purposes only. The release of such records will be treated in the same way as all other records and closed for 30 years only if they come within the usual criteria governing closure.

Government Departments: Broadband Facilities

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether central government departments are broadband-enabled: and, if not, what plans there are to achieve broadband connectivity by 2005.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The majority of central government departments are broadband enabled albeit not at every site or local office. Responsibility for expenditure on broadband connectivity lies with individual departments. However, the Office of the e-Envoy has drawn up detailed communications and IT expenditure plans as part of the 2002 Spending Review in order that activity in this area is co-ordinated. This work is being fed into the Office of Government Commerce's broadband procurement feasibility study.

Downing Street Apartments

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What precedents there are for the use of the Prime Ministerial apartments in Downing Street by wives of Prime Ministers for meetings with their business clients.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: There has been no change in the arrangements governing the occupation of apartments in Downing Street.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration: Public Access

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to introduce legislation enabling members of the public to have direct access to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: As I made clear in my Answer to the noble Lord of 29 January, the legislation required to implement the new arrangements will be made as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Special Advisers

Lord Campbell of Croy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans for an increase in the number of special advisers.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Paragraph 50 of the ministerial code sets out the rules on numbers of special advisers. At 1 May, there were 81 special advisers in post. The Government would not expect there to be a large increase in numbers.